Bill calling for secrecy in marijuana industry divides cannabis community in Maine

Efforts to keep some marijuana license details secret has divided Maine’s cannabis community: some see secrecy as protection from rivals and theft, while others worry it will allow out-of-state raiders to take over the local adult-use market.

But the industry is united against a state proposal to deem alcohol-based extraction of marijuana oil a hazardous process, saying it would price out most small operators, render at-home extraction illegal and drive up the retail costs of marijuana edibles, salves and tinctures.

Those were among dozens of proposed changes sought Monday during a two-hour committee hearing on L.D. 2091, an Office of Marijuana Policy bill to amend Maine’s adult-use marijuana legalization law before the market opens this spring.

An underlying theme of David versus Goliath echoed through much of the public testimony.

“The alcohol issue is nothing more than a big money game to squeeze the little guy out of business,” said caregiver Dawson Julia, who owns a medical marijuana shop in Unity that sells infused goods as well as smokeable flower and is the founder of United Coalition of Maine. [Read more at Portland Press Herald]